CA2101205C - Shock absorbing disconnect latch for ball bearing slides - Google Patents
Shock absorbing disconnect latch for ball bearing slides Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2101205C CA2101205C CA002101205A CA2101205A CA2101205C CA 2101205 C CA2101205 C CA 2101205C CA 002101205 A CA002101205 A CA 002101205A CA 2101205 A CA2101205 A CA 2101205A CA 2101205 C CA2101205 C CA 2101205C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- latch
- disconnect latch
- disconnect
- slot
- slide
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47B—TABLES; DESKS; OFFICE FURNITURE; CABINETS; DRAWERS; GENERAL DETAILS OF FURNITURE
- A47B88/00—Drawers for tables, cabinets or like furniture; Guides for drawers
- A47B88/50—Safety devices or the like for drawers
- A47B88/57—Safety devices or the like for drawers preventing complete withdrawal of the drawer
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47B—TABLES; DESKS; OFFICE FURNITURE; CABINETS; DRAWERS; GENERAL DETAILS OF FURNITURE
- A47B88/00—Drawers for tables, cabinets or like furniture; Guides for drawers
- A47B88/40—Sliding drawers; Slides or guides therefor
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47B—TABLES; DESKS; OFFICE FURNITURE; CABINETS; DRAWERS; GENERAL DETAILS OF FURNITURE
- A47B88/00—Drawers for tables, cabinets or like furniture; Guides for drawers
- A47B88/40—Sliding drawers; Slides or guides therefor
- A47B88/473—Braking devices, e.g. linear or rotational dampers or friction brakes; Buffers; End stops
- A47B88/477—Buffers; End stops
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47B—TABLES; DESKS; OFFICE FURNITURE; CABINETS; DRAWERS; GENERAL DETAILS OF FURNITURE
- A47B88/00—Drawers for tables, cabinets or like furniture; Guides for drawers
- A47B88/40—Sliding drawers; Slides or guides therefor
- A47B88/423—Fastening devices for slides or guides
- A47B2088/4235—Fastening devices for slides or guides having a latch mechanism coupling or disconnecting a drawer with drawer side slide from the rest of the slide members
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47B—TABLES; DESKS; OFFICE FURNITURE; CABINETS; DRAWERS; GENERAL DETAILS OF FURNITURE
- A47B2210/00—General construction of drawers, guides and guide devices
- A47B2210/0002—Guide construction for drawers
- A47B2210/0016—Telescopic drawer slide latch device
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47B—TABLES; DESKS; OFFICE FURNITURE; CABINETS; DRAWERS; GENERAL DETAILS OF FURNITURE
- A47B2210/00—General construction of drawers, guides and guide devices
- A47B2210/0002—Guide construction for drawers
- A47B2210/0018—Buffers, stop blocks or latches for single drawer slides
Landscapes
- Drawers Of Furniture (AREA)
- Fluid-Damping Devices (AREA)
- Vibration Prevention Devices (AREA)
- Supports For Pipes And Cables (AREA)
- Agricultural Machines (AREA)
- Bearings For Parts Moving Linearly (AREA)
- Spinning Or Twisting Of Yarns (AREA)
- Pivots And Pivotal Connections (AREA)
- Lock And Its Accessories (AREA)
- Seats For Vehicles (AREA)
- Ladders (AREA)
- Clamps And Clips (AREA)
- Sampling And Sample Adjustment (AREA)
Abstract
A shock absorbing disconnect latch comprises a lever, a wall for limiting travel of a longitudinal channel, and at least one vertical slot in a downwardly sloping body to enable rearward flexing of the disconnect latch for removal of the longitudinal channel. The flexing of the disconnect latch causes the lever to move counterclockwise providing space for the longitudinal channel to be disengaged. The flexing of the disconnect latch permits easy removal of the longitudinal channel, together pith reliable return of the lever. When the longitudinal channel is stopped by the wall of the disconnect latch, the shock energy is absorbed using the slot by deflection of the disconnect latch.
Description
2~~12~.~
~la ~~~CIC l~solt~Ildee~ D~~CO3~TldECT 7L~TC~
Tr~R 5~~, ~F.~~.RI3~?t3 ShTDSS
Fisld of theWnsrention This invention generally relates to disconnect latches for ball bearing slides. The invention specifically relatea to a, disconnect latch capable of reliably stopping slide members, eliminating unintentional disconnection and absorbing the shock energy created from ~toppag~. Also, the latch per~ai.ts easy xemoval of slide members.
~ac~cc,Hround of the ~~av~sn~o~
Drawers are often mounted within cabxnets~ using ball bearing slides. Such slides permia easy access to the interior of the drawer. T~xe slides maihtain the drawer in a horizontal position regardless of laow far the drawer is ~tithdrawn from the cabinet.
occasionally, a d~a~rer must be removed from the cabinet, for example fox repair br maintenance.
' 3o Therefore, the slides preferably include means for allowing the drawer to be readily remcaved from the cabinet. However, the slide must also have means'for preventing accidewtal or unintended disens~agement ~f the drawer when the drawer is fully e~tend~d. also, because the drawer slides must typically withstand many years of repetitive openang and dosing, here' a.s. s ' need for drawer slidea which continue t~ aperat 2~.t~~.~~:j 1 smoothly over extended periods of use. A1I drawer slides must endure severe industry performance testing.
For example, one common test for drawer slides requires slide mechanisms to withstand both 15,000 two-inch travel cycles and five 80~ travel cycles in response to a 15 pound pull while the drawer carries up to a 100 pound load.
Previous designs for drawer slides encountered many disadvantages in operation. Prior slides had a disconnect latch secured to one guide or member of the slide to prevent unintentional disengagement of another slide member. Removing drawers was previ~usly accomplished by pushing down on an arm~of the latch, thereby rotating the latch to pivot about a rivet or an extruded post encompassed by a rivet, providing space for the slide member to be disengaged.
A prior design for a dra~rer slide assembly with a pivoting disconnect latch is shown in FTG. 1. The slide member 10 has a longitudinal channel 14 comprising top and bottom slide retainers l2, 16. The pivoting style Iatch 20 is attached to the channel 14 using a rivet 42 in a counterbored ring 40.
As shown in FTG, la, on either side of the rivet .42 is an annular upwardly protruding extruded post ~~.
The rivet head extends over the tops of the extruded post 44; thus, the post 44 prevents the rivet head ~S3 from contacting the interior wall 41 of the counterbored right ~0. One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the bottom of the rivet head 43 is tightly clamped against tHxe top of the extruded ; post 44. This structureis intexaded to pgevent the ~a~r~t head from bearing against the latch, which would prevent the Iatch from returning to its normal pnsa:~ion after pivoting. Consequently, the dimensions of t~xe depth and height of the ~xt~uded post ~4 are critical to proper function of the prior art latch of FTG. 1.
~~~D~.~~a _ 1 Even minute errors in these dimensions will cause problems in operati~n of the prior art latch.
ene of ordinary skill in the art will understand that FTGs. ~. and la omit an intermediate slide member With guide block, ball bearings, and a second longitudinal channel, which are omitted for clarity.
. An operational slide would comprise an assembly of all the above.
The pivoting style latch 20 of FIB. 1 comprises a lever 22 formed unitarily with a counterbored ring 40 and an intermediate arm 2~. ~ihen a user of the slide wishes to disconnect the slide, lever 22 is depressed using finger pressure. The lever and ring then.pivot counterclockwise or clockwise depending on their orientation in the cabinet, ab~ut the extruded post 44 and rivet 42, when the le~rer 22 is depressed. The longitudinally proximal arm 24 moves counterclockwise, providing space for the inner longitudinal channel with guide block to clear the xaormally abutting face of the wall 26. Thus both the lever 22 and the arm 24 move counterclockwise towards the intermediate arm 28.
Consequently the horizontal hperture 30 compresses or decreases in size when the lever 22 moves toward the intermediate arm 28. The depressed lever position 50 is shown in phaxatom indicating the position,of the lever when depressed by finger pressure.
The pivoting of ring 40 about the extruded post 44 causes the latch to analfunction if the rivet head is secured too tightly over the extruded posts and bears against latch 20. Thus the pivoting styli latch 20 may fail to return to its n~n-impacted pesition'after the extended use which drawer slides are sub'ected to.
Prior latches also produced exc~ssi~e noise ~.n operation due to impact of a slide me~abe~ on the latch and the inability of prior latches to absorb impact pressure. Limiting the travel of slide members ~sz~g a stop is well understood by those skilled am t3ae art ~~~1~~.:~
1 as shown in Papp U. S. Patent No. ~, 560, 212 . Using a prior latch, when intermediate or outer slide members are stopped by the wall 26 of the latch of FIG. 1, the impact is noisy due to the rigid construction of the pivoting style latch. The FIG. 1 design does not have a means for absorbing the shock energy a~n the latch or rivet created when a slide member is stopped by the wall 26. In prior designs, all the load is transmitted throughout the latch which increases the risk of mechanical failure of the latch or guide block ~6. In addition, sufficiently strong impact pressure on the wall 26 may cause the rivet ~2 to be sheared off channel 14. The pivoting style design also requires precise parameters in the extruded post height, rivet clinch, and recess depth and diameter. Thus, manufacturing contr~ls must insure only slight deviations in the dimensions of the recess, extruded post and rivet.
Consequently, prior designs for disconnect latches can be expensive and complex to manufacture. There is also a need for a drawer slide which promotes smooth, noise-free movement of the disconnect latch.
Accomplishing this without complex manufacturing controls is advantageous: It would also be desirable that the latch function correctly even after years of repetitive opening and closing of the drawer.
summaro~ of the Invention The present invention provides a shock absorbing disconnect latch for a drawer slide comprising a wall or stop for limiting longa.tudinal travel of a slide member, a latch body unitarily formed with the wall and having at least one vertical slot which permits both flexing of the latch to enable disengagement of t~xe slide member, and also absorption of the shock energy created when the slide member is stopped. A
longitudinally elongated lever is formed uzaitarily with ~~Q~~~~
l the latch body to enable flexing of the latch using downward pressure on the lever.
The disconnect latch of the invention eliminates the need for pivoting and instead flexes. i9hen the latch is depressed to remove the drawer, or impacted by pressure of a slide member on the wall, the latch flexes under the load. This flexing design eliminates the need for critical dimiensians of the pivoting components, so manufacturing control costs and complexity are lessened. The latch is in3ection molded as a single piece and has a nonarotating mounting hole which simplifies manufacturing.
The disconnect latch dissipates shock energy by deflecting irl the same direction as the impact load.
once the impact energy has been absorbed, the disconnect latch returns to the original non~impacted position. This greatly reduces the transmitted peak load that must be absorbed by the disconnect latch.
Thus the reliability of the latch is 3.noreased.
-6_ Z Brief lDescription of the Dra~erings_ Details of the invention are described below and will be more fully appreciated with reference to the accompanying drawings: .
~ FIG. 1 is an elevation view of a prior art pivoting style disconnect latch fitted to a drawer slide member with a depressed position of the lever in phantom;
FIG. la shows a side cross-sectional view of the counterbored ring taken on, line la-~.a of FIG. 9.;
FIG. 2 is an elev~.tion view of the invention;
FIG. 3 is an elevation view of a latch of the invention fitted to drawer slide retainers its side view, with a flexed position of tlae le~rer and a stopped position of the slide shown in phant~m;
FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional v3.ew of the latch taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 3; and FIG. 5 shows a side vieca of the disconnect latch with a deflected position of the di~conraect latch, under impact loado shown in phantom; and FIG. 6 shows ~ cross-section view ref a' latch of the invention attached to a slide meYnber with a guide block interconnecting with another slide member:
2.01' _.,_ 1 Detailed Descrintioxi The present invention, a shock absorbing disconnect latch 100, is shown in FIGs. 2 to 6. 7Like reference numbers in the figures identify similar parts. The latch in FIG. b is of opposite sense to that in FIGS. 2-5 (for use on the opposite side of a drawer). .Since all the parts are similar, the reference numerals are the same, but include the letter ~~b~~ a l0 The disconnect latch 100 preferably is secured to the longitudinal channel 14 of a drawer slide 10. The longitudinal channel 14 comprises two top and bottom slide retainers 12 and 16 spaced apart by any desired slide width. The width of the channel 14 is approximately equal to the width of the non~impacted disconnect latch 100.
The disconnect latch 100 comprises a leer 22 which extends horizontally parallel to the slide retainers 16 and 12. A stop or impact wall 104 i~
formed generally normal to the lever and is formed integrally with the leer: A rearwardly downwardly angled wall 1~8 loins the lever and wall to a bridge portion 116 and a rear ring 110. The ring 110 is generally circular and has a generally horizontal bottom edge 128; the ring is formed integrally with the stop and the lever. When the latch is mounted in the channel 14 in its normal position, the retainers 16 and 12 are adjacent to the dip 120 of wall 118 and edge 128 of the ring 110.
In this position, the latch is locked so that the wall 104 limits the travel of longitudinal slide m~anber 14 as shown in FIG. 3 by the phantom positioxa 500 ~f the second member 414. The second membe~c 414 and guide block 46 comprise a recess e~~,6 for a rivet (not ahov~n) to firmly secure the second channel to the guide block.
T.he guide block 46 comprises a stopping post 48 which prevents unintentional :disconnection of slide ~~~~~~J
_g_ 1 member 14. When the disconnect latch l00 is in its locked position, a wall 104 of the latch 100 will contact and stop against post 48 when the drawer is opened. Thus, the stopping post 48 blocks the movement path of the disconnect latch and the slide ane~nber 14 to which the latch is attached. However, as discussed below, when the disconnect latch is flexed downward, the wall 104~wi11 clear the post 48 and enable the slide member 14 to move past the guide block 4f. Such a slide position is shown in FIG. 6 and by the solid-line placement of the second member 414 in FIG. 3, l~s viewed in cross section in FIG. f>, in this position the latch is past the stopping post 46b with angled wall 118b visible behind the post.
A longtitudinal channel member 14 of the slide can be removed by depressing the lever 22 towards the retainer 16. Then the lever 22 fleeces counterclockwise. When the disconnect latch is depressed by finger pressure to p~sition 200, as sh~wn in phantom in FIG. 3, anly the botts~m slide retainer i~
touches the disconnect latch lever 22. Edge 128 of the ring presses against the retainer lg and ~prbvides leverage for pushing the lever 22 down: Wall 104 will then clear post 48 to enable removal of the slide member 14.
preferably the disconnect latch 1.00 is secured to the longitudinal channel 14 using a fastener 114, such as a rivet or an integrally formed annular, extruded post which secures the latch in an annula~° recess i12.
FIG. 4 shows a sectional view of the recess ll~ holding the rivet 114. The recess embraces the xivet so that the disconnect latch is attached to bhe 1~ngituc~inal channel by the rivet passing-through the 7.atch and a matching hole 122 in the channel.
Reduced noise impac°~ is promoted by at least one vertical slot 1.06, 1.08 provided along the longitudinal axis ref the slide member< Eaah slept 106 and 108 is 2~.~1~
1 generally vertical and preferably formed with arcuate terminal ends. The slots are shaped similar to a keyhole, so that preferably the mouth of each slot is wider than the curved terminal. The slot 108 has its curved terminal closer to the retainer 16, while slot 106 has its curved terminal closer to the retainer 12.
The slots preferably have an opposed orientat~.on and the slot 108 is longitudinally.proximal, while the slot 106 is longitudinally distal, in relation to the rivet 114. The slots thus are spaced apart with a bridge portion 116 interposed between the slots.
The bridge 116 is surrounded on either side by the slots. The bridge is formed unit~ri~y with the ring 110 and the downwardly sloping wall 118. t~lh:en the lever 22 is depressed, the proximal edge 12~4 of the bridge 116 adjacent to the slot 108 moves counterclockwise which laterally widens the slot 108.
The distal edge 126 of the bridge adjacent to slot 106 also moves counterclockwise which laterally compresses the slot 106. Thus there is enough space provided for the slide member to clear the normally abutting face of the wall 104.
The use of at least one vertical slot results in the absorption of the shock energy created by the contact of the wall 10~ with tlae longitudinal channel.
Under impact load in the horizontal direction 300 as shown in FIG. 5, the proximal edge 124 of the bridge 116 adjacent to the soot 9.08 moves horizontally whxah laterally narrows the slot 108. Tae distal edge lZ6 of the bridge adjacent to slot 106 also moves horizontal which laterally compresses the slot 106:' Also, when the lever ~2 is depressed, the first vertical. slot 108 laterally expands wlai5.e the second vertical slot 106 laterally compresses.
The downwardly doping wall 138 also moves counterclockwise when the lever 22 is depressed. After the counterclockwise movement, the do&rnwardly eloping -lo-1 wall 118 reduces the angle of its slope, so that it is almost in a horizontal position, as shown in FIG. 3.
The disconnect latch thus assumes the depressed lever position 200 of FIG. 3. The flexing of the vertical slots 106 and 108 eliminates the need for the ring 110 to pivot about the rivet 1.1~. Instead, the latch is preferably made of nylon or other suitable hard, resilient material, so that spring resilience of the latch causes the latch to return to its o~r3ginal position. Thus the disconnect latch 100 is more reliable in returning the lever 22 to its non-impacted position. Also the flexing method eliminates the need for precise parameters on the recess depth and diameter, extruded post height, and rivet clinch, so manufacturing costs and complexity are lessened.
The invention can be practa.ced in many different embodiments and variations. For example, the number of slots can vary and still ensure flexing of the latch.
Although the slots must be vertical, they can be positioned in numerous locations along the longitudinal axis of the longitudinal channel. The slots caa~ be constructed in various shapes; it is not necessary to employ a keyhole shape or rounded head. For example, a slot could have a triangular shape. Thus, the invention caw be adapted to various sized slide assemblies and can interface with variously shaped slide members. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are intended to be incorporated within the scope of this invention. The present embodiments of this invention should be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictiveo the scope of the invention to be indicated by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description.
~la ~~~CIC l~solt~Ildee~ D~~CO3~TldECT 7L~TC~
Tr~R 5~~, ~F.~~.RI3~?t3 ShTDSS
Fisld of theWnsrention This invention generally relates to disconnect latches for ball bearing slides. The invention specifically relatea to a, disconnect latch capable of reliably stopping slide members, eliminating unintentional disconnection and absorbing the shock energy created from ~toppag~. Also, the latch per~ai.ts easy xemoval of slide members.
~ac~cc,Hround of the ~~av~sn~o~
Drawers are often mounted within cabxnets~ using ball bearing slides. Such slides permia easy access to the interior of the drawer. T~xe slides maihtain the drawer in a horizontal position regardless of laow far the drawer is ~tithdrawn from the cabinet.
occasionally, a d~a~rer must be removed from the cabinet, for example fox repair br maintenance.
' 3o Therefore, the slides preferably include means for allowing the drawer to be readily remcaved from the cabinet. However, the slide must also have means'for preventing accidewtal or unintended disens~agement ~f the drawer when the drawer is fully e~tend~d. also, because the drawer slides must typically withstand many years of repetitive openang and dosing, here' a.s. s ' need for drawer slidea which continue t~ aperat 2~.t~~.~~:j 1 smoothly over extended periods of use. A1I drawer slides must endure severe industry performance testing.
For example, one common test for drawer slides requires slide mechanisms to withstand both 15,000 two-inch travel cycles and five 80~ travel cycles in response to a 15 pound pull while the drawer carries up to a 100 pound load.
Previous designs for drawer slides encountered many disadvantages in operation. Prior slides had a disconnect latch secured to one guide or member of the slide to prevent unintentional disengagement of another slide member. Removing drawers was previ~usly accomplished by pushing down on an arm~of the latch, thereby rotating the latch to pivot about a rivet or an extruded post encompassed by a rivet, providing space for the slide member to be disengaged.
A prior design for a dra~rer slide assembly with a pivoting disconnect latch is shown in FTG. 1. The slide member 10 has a longitudinal channel 14 comprising top and bottom slide retainers l2, 16. The pivoting style Iatch 20 is attached to the channel 14 using a rivet 42 in a counterbored ring 40.
As shown in FTG, la, on either side of the rivet .42 is an annular upwardly protruding extruded post ~~.
The rivet head extends over the tops of the extruded post 44; thus, the post 44 prevents the rivet head ~S3 from contacting the interior wall 41 of the counterbored right ~0. One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the bottom of the rivet head 43 is tightly clamped against tHxe top of the extruded ; post 44. This structureis intexaded to pgevent the ~a~r~t head from bearing against the latch, which would prevent the Iatch from returning to its normal pnsa:~ion after pivoting. Consequently, the dimensions of t~xe depth and height of the ~xt~uded post ~4 are critical to proper function of the prior art latch of FTG. 1.
~~~D~.~~a _ 1 Even minute errors in these dimensions will cause problems in operati~n of the prior art latch.
ene of ordinary skill in the art will understand that FTGs. ~. and la omit an intermediate slide member With guide block, ball bearings, and a second longitudinal channel, which are omitted for clarity.
. An operational slide would comprise an assembly of all the above.
The pivoting style latch 20 of FIB. 1 comprises a lever 22 formed unitarily with a counterbored ring 40 and an intermediate arm 2~. ~ihen a user of the slide wishes to disconnect the slide, lever 22 is depressed using finger pressure. The lever and ring then.pivot counterclockwise or clockwise depending on their orientation in the cabinet, ab~ut the extruded post 44 and rivet 42, when the le~rer 22 is depressed. The longitudinally proximal arm 24 moves counterclockwise, providing space for the inner longitudinal channel with guide block to clear the xaormally abutting face of the wall 26. Thus both the lever 22 and the arm 24 move counterclockwise towards the intermediate arm 28.
Consequently the horizontal hperture 30 compresses or decreases in size when the lever 22 moves toward the intermediate arm 28. The depressed lever position 50 is shown in phaxatom indicating the position,of the lever when depressed by finger pressure.
The pivoting of ring 40 about the extruded post 44 causes the latch to analfunction if the rivet head is secured too tightly over the extruded posts and bears against latch 20. Thus the pivoting styli latch 20 may fail to return to its n~n-impacted pesition'after the extended use which drawer slides are sub'ected to.
Prior latches also produced exc~ssi~e noise ~.n operation due to impact of a slide me~abe~ on the latch and the inability of prior latches to absorb impact pressure. Limiting the travel of slide members ~sz~g a stop is well understood by those skilled am t3ae art ~~~1~~.:~
1 as shown in Papp U. S. Patent No. ~, 560, 212 . Using a prior latch, when intermediate or outer slide members are stopped by the wall 26 of the latch of FIG. 1, the impact is noisy due to the rigid construction of the pivoting style latch. The FIG. 1 design does not have a means for absorbing the shock energy a~n the latch or rivet created when a slide member is stopped by the wall 26. In prior designs, all the load is transmitted throughout the latch which increases the risk of mechanical failure of the latch or guide block ~6. In addition, sufficiently strong impact pressure on the wall 26 may cause the rivet ~2 to be sheared off channel 14. The pivoting style design also requires precise parameters in the extruded post height, rivet clinch, and recess depth and diameter. Thus, manufacturing contr~ls must insure only slight deviations in the dimensions of the recess, extruded post and rivet.
Consequently, prior designs for disconnect latches can be expensive and complex to manufacture. There is also a need for a drawer slide which promotes smooth, noise-free movement of the disconnect latch.
Accomplishing this without complex manufacturing controls is advantageous: It would also be desirable that the latch function correctly even after years of repetitive opening and closing of the drawer.
summaro~ of the Invention The present invention provides a shock absorbing disconnect latch for a drawer slide comprising a wall or stop for limiting longa.tudinal travel of a slide member, a latch body unitarily formed with the wall and having at least one vertical slot which permits both flexing of the latch to enable disengagement of t~xe slide member, and also absorption of the shock energy created when the slide member is stopped. A
longitudinally elongated lever is formed uzaitarily with ~~Q~~~~
l the latch body to enable flexing of the latch using downward pressure on the lever.
The disconnect latch of the invention eliminates the need for pivoting and instead flexes. i9hen the latch is depressed to remove the drawer, or impacted by pressure of a slide member on the wall, the latch flexes under the load. This flexing design eliminates the need for critical dimiensians of the pivoting components, so manufacturing control costs and complexity are lessened. The latch is in3ection molded as a single piece and has a nonarotating mounting hole which simplifies manufacturing.
The disconnect latch dissipates shock energy by deflecting irl the same direction as the impact load.
once the impact energy has been absorbed, the disconnect latch returns to the original non~impacted position. This greatly reduces the transmitted peak load that must be absorbed by the disconnect latch.
Thus the reliability of the latch is 3.noreased.
-6_ Z Brief lDescription of the Dra~erings_ Details of the invention are described below and will be more fully appreciated with reference to the accompanying drawings: .
~ FIG. 1 is an elevation view of a prior art pivoting style disconnect latch fitted to a drawer slide member with a depressed position of the lever in phantom;
FIG. la shows a side cross-sectional view of the counterbored ring taken on, line la-~.a of FIG. 9.;
FIG. 2 is an elev~.tion view of the invention;
FIG. 3 is an elevation view of a latch of the invention fitted to drawer slide retainers its side view, with a flexed position of tlae le~rer and a stopped position of the slide shown in phant~m;
FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional v3.ew of the latch taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 3; and FIG. 5 shows a side vieca of the disconnect latch with a deflected position of the di~conraect latch, under impact loado shown in phantom; and FIG. 6 shows ~ cross-section view ref a' latch of the invention attached to a slide meYnber with a guide block interconnecting with another slide member:
2.01' _.,_ 1 Detailed Descrintioxi The present invention, a shock absorbing disconnect latch 100, is shown in FIGs. 2 to 6. 7Like reference numbers in the figures identify similar parts. The latch in FIG. b is of opposite sense to that in FIGS. 2-5 (for use on the opposite side of a drawer). .Since all the parts are similar, the reference numerals are the same, but include the letter ~~b~~ a l0 The disconnect latch 100 preferably is secured to the longitudinal channel 14 of a drawer slide 10. The longitudinal channel 14 comprises two top and bottom slide retainers 12 and 16 spaced apart by any desired slide width. The width of the channel 14 is approximately equal to the width of the non~impacted disconnect latch 100.
The disconnect latch 100 comprises a leer 22 which extends horizontally parallel to the slide retainers 16 and 12. A stop or impact wall 104 i~
formed generally normal to the lever and is formed integrally with the leer: A rearwardly downwardly angled wall 1~8 loins the lever and wall to a bridge portion 116 and a rear ring 110. The ring 110 is generally circular and has a generally horizontal bottom edge 128; the ring is formed integrally with the stop and the lever. When the latch is mounted in the channel 14 in its normal position, the retainers 16 and 12 are adjacent to the dip 120 of wall 118 and edge 128 of the ring 110.
In this position, the latch is locked so that the wall 104 limits the travel of longitudinal slide m~anber 14 as shown in FIG. 3 by the phantom positioxa 500 ~f the second member 414. The second membe~c 414 and guide block 46 comprise a recess e~~,6 for a rivet (not ahov~n) to firmly secure the second channel to the guide block.
T.he guide block 46 comprises a stopping post 48 which prevents unintentional :disconnection of slide ~~~~~~J
_g_ 1 member 14. When the disconnect latch l00 is in its locked position, a wall 104 of the latch 100 will contact and stop against post 48 when the drawer is opened. Thus, the stopping post 48 blocks the movement path of the disconnect latch and the slide ane~nber 14 to which the latch is attached. However, as discussed below, when the disconnect latch is flexed downward, the wall 104~wi11 clear the post 48 and enable the slide member 14 to move past the guide block 4f. Such a slide position is shown in FIG. 6 and by the solid-line placement of the second member 414 in FIG. 3, l~s viewed in cross section in FIG. f>, in this position the latch is past the stopping post 46b with angled wall 118b visible behind the post.
A longtitudinal channel member 14 of the slide can be removed by depressing the lever 22 towards the retainer 16. Then the lever 22 fleeces counterclockwise. When the disconnect latch is depressed by finger pressure to p~sition 200, as sh~wn in phantom in FIG. 3, anly the botts~m slide retainer i~
touches the disconnect latch lever 22. Edge 128 of the ring presses against the retainer lg and ~prbvides leverage for pushing the lever 22 down: Wall 104 will then clear post 48 to enable removal of the slide member 14.
preferably the disconnect latch 1.00 is secured to the longitudinal channel 14 using a fastener 114, such as a rivet or an integrally formed annular, extruded post which secures the latch in an annula~° recess i12.
FIG. 4 shows a sectional view of the recess ll~ holding the rivet 114. The recess embraces the xivet so that the disconnect latch is attached to bhe 1~ngituc~inal channel by the rivet passing-through the 7.atch and a matching hole 122 in the channel.
Reduced noise impac°~ is promoted by at least one vertical slot 1.06, 1.08 provided along the longitudinal axis ref the slide member< Eaah slept 106 and 108 is 2~.~1~
1 generally vertical and preferably formed with arcuate terminal ends. The slots are shaped similar to a keyhole, so that preferably the mouth of each slot is wider than the curved terminal. The slot 108 has its curved terminal closer to the retainer 16, while slot 106 has its curved terminal closer to the retainer 12.
The slots preferably have an opposed orientat~.on and the slot 108 is longitudinally.proximal, while the slot 106 is longitudinally distal, in relation to the rivet 114. The slots thus are spaced apart with a bridge portion 116 interposed between the slots.
The bridge 116 is surrounded on either side by the slots. The bridge is formed unit~ri~y with the ring 110 and the downwardly sloping wall 118. t~lh:en the lever 22 is depressed, the proximal edge 12~4 of the bridge 116 adjacent to the slot 108 moves counterclockwise which laterally widens the slot 108.
The distal edge 126 of the bridge adjacent to slot 106 also moves counterclockwise which laterally compresses the slot 106. Thus there is enough space provided for the slide member to clear the normally abutting face of the wall 104.
The use of at least one vertical slot results in the absorption of the shock energy created by the contact of the wall 10~ with tlae longitudinal channel.
Under impact load in the horizontal direction 300 as shown in FIG. 5, the proximal edge 124 of the bridge 116 adjacent to the soot 9.08 moves horizontally whxah laterally narrows the slot 108. Tae distal edge lZ6 of the bridge adjacent to slot 106 also moves horizontal which laterally compresses the slot 106:' Also, when the lever ~2 is depressed, the first vertical. slot 108 laterally expands wlai5.e the second vertical slot 106 laterally compresses.
The downwardly doping wall 138 also moves counterclockwise when the lever 22 is depressed. After the counterclockwise movement, the do&rnwardly eloping -lo-1 wall 118 reduces the angle of its slope, so that it is almost in a horizontal position, as shown in FIG. 3.
The disconnect latch thus assumes the depressed lever position 200 of FIG. 3. The flexing of the vertical slots 106 and 108 eliminates the need for the ring 110 to pivot about the rivet 1.1~. Instead, the latch is preferably made of nylon or other suitable hard, resilient material, so that spring resilience of the latch causes the latch to return to its o~r3ginal position. Thus the disconnect latch 100 is more reliable in returning the lever 22 to its non-impacted position. Also the flexing method eliminates the need for precise parameters on the recess depth and diameter, extruded post height, and rivet clinch, so manufacturing costs and complexity are lessened.
The invention can be practa.ced in many different embodiments and variations. For example, the number of slots can vary and still ensure flexing of the latch.
Although the slots must be vertical, they can be positioned in numerous locations along the longitudinal axis of the longitudinal channel. The slots caa~ be constructed in various shapes; it is not necessary to employ a keyhole shape or rounded head. For example, a slot could have a triangular shape. Thus, the invention caw be adapted to various sized slide assemblies and can interface with variously shaped slide members. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are intended to be incorporated within the scope of this invention. The present embodiments of this invention should be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictiveo the scope of the invention to be indicated by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description.
Claims (18)
1. A disconnect latch for a slide assembly, the slide assembly including at least one elongated channel, the disconnect latch comprising the unitarily formed combination of:
means for locking and preventing unintentional disconnection of the channel; and means for flexing the disconnect latch to clear the locking means such that the channel is released and for absorbing shock energy produced when the channel is stopped against the locking means.
means for locking and preventing unintentional disconnection of the channel; and means for flexing the disconnect latch to clear the locking means such that the channel is released and for absorbing shock energy produced when the channel is stopped against the locking means.
2. The disconnect latch of claim 1 further including mounting means comprising a recess in the disconnect latch and a channel and fastener in the recess securing the channel to the disconnect latch.
3. The disconnect latch of claim 1 wherein the means for locking comprises a wall generally normal to the slide for blocking movement of a post on the channel.
4. The disconnect latch of claim 1 wherein the flex-ing means comprises at least one generally vertical slot.
5. The disconnect latch of claim 4 wherein the gen-erally vertical slot is laterally compressible.
6. The disconnect latch of claim 4 wherein the gen-erally vertical slot is laterally expandable.
7. The disconnect latch of claim 1 wherein the flex-ing means comprises two opposed, generally vertical spaced-apart slots.
8. The disconnect latch of claim 7 wherein the two generally vertical slots are spaced apart and in opposing directions, one of the slots facing upwardly and one facing downwardly.
9. The disconnect latch of claim 8 wherein the slot facing upwardly is expandable and the slot facing downward-ly is compressible for the disconnect latch to clear the locking means and wherein the slot facing upwardly and the slot facing downwardly are compressible for absorbing shock energy.
10. A slide assembly comprising:
at least one elongated slide member with a rail;
and a disconnect latch comprising (a) means for vertically flexing the disconnect latch such that the elon-gated slide member can be disengaged without pivoting the disconnect latch and (b) means for attaching the disconnect latch to the rail.
at least one elongated slide member with a rail;
and a disconnect latch comprising (a) means for vertically flexing the disconnect latch such that the elon-gated slide member can be disengaged without pivoting the disconnect latch and (b) means for attaching the disconnect latch to the rail.
11. The slide assembly of claim 10 wherein the mounting means comprises a recess in the disconnect latch and slide member, and a rivet in the recess securing the latch to the slide member.
12. The slide assembly of claim 10 wherein the dis-connect latch comprises the integrally formed combination of a downwardly moveable lever, a downwardly sloping wall rear of the lever, and a ring in a rear portion of the lever.
13. The slide assembly of claim 12 wherein the flex-ing means comprises at least one generally vertical slot in the latch, the slot being compressible to provide space for the slide member to clear a post on the slide member.
14. The slide assembly of claim 13 wherein the gen-erally vertical slot is normal to a longitudinal axis of the downwardly sloping wall.
15. The slide assembly of claim 12 comprising first and second slide members, wherein the flexing means of the latch comprises two generally vertical slots in the latch, each having a mouth and a terminal.
16. The slide assembly of claim 15 wherein the two generally vertical slots are spaced-apart along a longi-tudinal axis of the downwardly sloping wall, and where the mouth of the slot is wider than the terminal.
17. The slide assembly of claim 15 wherein the two generally vertical slots are spaced apart and wherein one slot is upwardly facing and one slot is downwardly facing.
18. The slide assembly of claim 10 wherein the flex-ing means comprises a plurality of spaced-apart slots.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US07/920,758 US5255983A (en) | 1992-07-28 | 1992-07-28 | Shock absorbing disconnect latch for ball bearing slides |
| US07/920758 | 1992-07-28 |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2101205A1 CA2101205A1 (en) | 1994-01-29 |
| CA2101205C true CA2101205C (en) | 2005-02-01 |
Family
ID=25444340
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002101205A Expired - Lifetime CA2101205C (en) | 1992-07-28 | 1993-07-23 | Shock absorbing disconnect latch for ball bearing slides |
Country Status (9)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US5255983A (en) |
| EP (1) | EP0581499B1 (en) |
| JP (1) | JP3590080B2 (en) |
| AT (1) | ATE148983T1 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2101205C (en) |
| DE (1) | DE69308176T2 (en) |
| ES (1) | ES2097982T3 (en) |
| MX (1) | MX9304483A (en) |
| TW (1) | TW296578U (en) |
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| US5316389A (en) * | 1992-08-24 | 1994-05-31 | Knape & Vogt Manufacturing Company | Drawer slide assembly |
| US5577821A (en) * | 1995-03-24 | 1996-11-26 | Chu; Leo | Sliding track assembly for drawers |
| US5542759A (en) * | 1995-04-27 | 1996-08-06 | Snap-On Technologies, Inc. | Shock absorbing disconnect latch for drawer slides |
| US5549377A (en) * | 1995-06-08 | 1996-08-27 | Snap-On Technologies, Inc. | Corrugated three-piece drawer slide assembly |
| US5730514A (en) * | 1996-05-17 | 1998-03-24 | Accuride International, Inc. | Shock absorbing locking disconnect latch for ball bearing slides |
| DE19835364C2 (en) * | 1998-08-05 | 2000-06-08 | Fischer Artur Werke Gmbh | Device for installation in a motor vehicle with a pull-out part |
| US6145945A (en) | 1998-11-12 | 2000-11-14 | Accuride International, Inc. | Drawer slide bearing retainer and guide block |
| CA2408398C (en) | 2000-05-01 | 2005-01-11 | Accuride International Inc. | Self-closing slide and mechanism for a self-closing slide |
| US20060082266A1 (en) * | 2000-05-01 | 2006-04-20 | Le Hai D | Self-moving slides and self-moving mechanisms |
| US6971729B1 (en) | 2000-05-01 | 2005-12-06 | Accuride International, Inc. | Self-closing slide |
| TW540344U (en) * | 2000-07-12 | 2003-07-01 | Kuo-Chan Weng | Improved device for drawer sliding rail |
| US6435636B1 (en) | 2000-06-15 | 2002-08-20 | Compx International Inc. | Drawer slide cushion end stop bumper construction |
| US6817685B2 (en) | 2000-08-08 | 2004-11-16 | Accuride International Inc. | Release mechanism for drawer slide latches |
| US6729703B2 (en) * | 2001-02-28 | 2004-05-04 | Accuride International, Inc. | Snap-in latch |
| WO2003049572A2 (en) * | 2001-12-12 | 2003-06-19 | Pentair Electronic Packaging Co. | Improved slide rail assembly |
| US20040126400A1 (en) * | 2002-05-03 | 2004-07-01 | Iversen Patrick L. | Delivery of therapeutic compounds via microparticles or microbubbles |
| US7001004B2 (en) * | 2002-09-18 | 2006-02-21 | Whirlpool Corporation | Removable dishrack track stop |
| US7111913B2 (en) * | 2002-12-18 | 2006-09-26 | Pentair Electronic Packaging | Telescoping slide rail with latching and alignment mechanisms |
| US7104691B2 (en) * | 2003-07-31 | 2006-09-12 | Accuride International, Inc. | Self-moving slide, mechanism for self-moving slide and method for self-moving a slide |
| DE10334952B4 (en) * | 2003-07-31 | 2007-10-04 | Accuride International Gmbh | Telescopic rail and sliding element |
| US7108340B2 (en) * | 2004-06-08 | 2006-09-19 | Hsing Lyiang Industry Co., Ltd. | Rail assembly for a drawer |
| US20060033408A1 (en) * | 2004-08-11 | 2006-02-16 | Nan Juen International Co., Ltd. | Extended rod of slide mechanism for drawer slide track |
| US7101081B2 (en) * | 2004-10-12 | 2006-09-05 | King Slide Works Co., Ltd. | Positioning device for a ball bearing slide |
| JP4763710B2 (en) * | 2004-11-05 | 2011-08-31 | アキュライド インターナショナル，インコーポレイテッド | Automatic mechanism and slide incorporating it |
| JP4782795B2 (en) * | 2004-11-05 | 2011-09-28 | アキュライド インターナショナル，インコーポレイテッド | Braking mechanism and slide incorporating the same |
| CN100396210C (en) * | 2005-11-30 | 2008-06-25 | 郝钰 | Magnetic force automatically attracted type mute contact ball |
| US8434836B2 (en) * | 2007-08-30 | 2013-05-07 | Waterloo Industries, Inc. | Slide assembly |
| US8056989B2 (en) * | 2007-09-10 | 2011-11-15 | Zielinski Randall S | Child-proof safety latch |
| AT506879B1 (en) * | 2008-06-10 | 2011-07-15 | Blum Gmbh Julius | DEVICE FOR RELEASABLE DUPLICATION OF A DRAWER WITH A RAIL OF A DRAWER EXTRACTOR |
| US8757458B2 (en) * | 2009-05-29 | 2014-06-24 | Lippert Components, Inc. | Storage box with slide out storage tray |
| US20100301721A1 (en) * | 2009-05-29 | 2010-12-02 | Nebel Michael W | Storage box with slide out storage tray |
| CN102238841A (en) * | 2010-04-27 | 2011-11-09 | 鸿富锦精密工业（深圳）有限公司 | Slide rail mechanism |
| US8485616B2 (en) | 2011-02-09 | 2013-07-16 | King Slide Works Co., Ltd. | Slide assembly with buffering member for reducing impact and noise |
| DE202011052298U1 (en) | 2011-12-14 | 2013-03-18 | Hücking GmbH | Locking element for slide-out rails |
| US20140263918A1 (en) * | 2013-03-15 | 2014-09-18 | Koh Hong LYE | Novel display stands |
| TWI618503B (en) * | 2016-01-29 | 2018-03-21 | 川湖科技股份有限公司 | Slide rail assembly |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3801166A (en) * | 1973-01-05 | 1974-04-02 | Fall H | Drawer slide bearing retainer lock |
| DE2540581C2 (en) * | 1975-09-11 | 1985-09-12 | Schock & Co Gmbh, 7060 Schorndorf | Pull-out guide for drawers and the like. |
| US4423914A (en) * | 1981-05-18 | 1984-01-03 | Knape & Vogt Manufacturing Co. | Drawer slide locking lever |
| US4473262A (en) * | 1982-01-11 | 1984-09-25 | Jacmorr Manufacturing Limited | Latching device for latching a drawer to a drawer slide |
| US4560212A (en) * | 1983-10-07 | 1985-12-24 | Standard Precision, Inc. | Three part ball bearing slide with lockable intermediate slide member |
| US4549773A (en) * | 1983-10-07 | 1985-10-29 | Standard Precision, Inc. | Ball bearing slide with removable and lockable inner slide member |
| US4988214A (en) * | 1986-08-18 | 1991-01-29 | Knape & Vogt Manufacturing Co. | Sequential drawer slide |
| US4872734A (en) * | 1987-06-22 | 1989-10-10 | Robert Rechberg | Drawer slides with self-actuating latching systems |
| US4993847A (en) * | 1989-08-07 | 1991-02-19 | General Devices Co., Inc. | Slide release mechanism |
| US4998828A (en) * | 1989-10-02 | 1991-03-12 | General Devices Co., Inc. | Over and under telescoping slide assembly |
| US5002402A (en) * | 1989-10-30 | 1991-03-26 | Standard Precision, Inc. | Unhanded slide latch device |
-
1992
- 1992-07-28 US US07/920,758 patent/US5255983A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
1993
- 1993-07-16 EP EP93305606A patent/EP0581499B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1993-07-16 AT AT93305606T patent/ATE148983T1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1993-07-16 DE DE69308176T patent/DE69308176T2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1993-07-16 ES ES93305606T patent/ES2097982T3/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1993-07-23 CA CA002101205A patent/CA2101205C/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1993-07-26 MX MX9304483A patent/MX9304483A/en unknown
- 1993-07-27 TW TW084204114U patent/TW296578U/en unknown
- 1993-07-28 JP JP18622193A patent/JP3590080B2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| EP0581499A3 (en) | 1994-03-02 |
| US5255983A (en) | 1993-10-26 |
| ES2097982T3 (en) | 1997-04-16 |
| EP0581499B1 (en) | 1997-02-19 |
| CA2101205A1 (en) | 1994-01-29 |
| TW296578U (en) | 1997-01-21 |
| JP3590080B2 (en) | 2004-11-17 |
| MX9304483A (en) | 1994-04-29 |
| DE69308176T2 (en) | 1997-07-31 |
| EP0581499A2 (en) | 1994-02-02 |
| JPH06169823A (en) | 1994-06-21 |
| DE69308176D1 (en) | 1997-03-27 |
| ATE148983T1 (en) | 1997-03-15 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request |